Enhanced Hand Operated Personal Cooling Fan

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cooling ones self by a traditional manual back and forth fanning movement of the invention. The apparatus has the capability to spray a mist of water into the moving air created by the apparatus so as to aid in the cooling process. The invention can also be used as a sound board or tambourine to create a sound to imitate traditional hand clapping for a signal or for celebratory expression. Also, in one embodiment, the invention serves as a sign or billboard for image or print media advertising. In another embodiment it serves as a traditionally recognizable symbol or trademark.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the situation where a person or persons maybecome personally over heated because of their activity or theirimmediate environment or their situation in a mechanically cooled or“air conditioned” environment where that air conditioning system hassuddenly failed and temporary relief is required as soon as possiblewith minimum preparation and difficulty. This invention might becompared to emergency lighting where electricity has failed. In anon-emergency or non-failure situation the invention pertains toproviding relief from environmental personal overheating with also twoother distinct enhancements. Those enhanced capabilities are advertisinga team identity or other message and creating a celebratory noise.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains generally to a hand held and hand operatedpersonal portable cooling fan with the capability to spray a mist ofcooling water by means of a hand operated intergal pump to aid in thecooling process.

The various drawings and specifications herein will describe andillustrate a new and unique apparatus to aid persons who may becomeoverheated in various environments. The invention is easy to use,requires no power source or batteries and can be configured to also bean advertising sign and noise making device simultaneously while beingpracticed as a personal cooling fan apparatus.

The object of the invention is to create a simplistic and dependablepersonal cooling source to be stored and maintained and made availableto persons subject to possible overheating due to failed“air-conditioning” in a confined environment and also provide a similarpersonal cooling source for persons attending a sports event or similarevent where personal overheating may be a concern.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Contemporary lifestyles include being in environments which aremechanically cooled or “air conditioned”. If these air conditioningsystems fail in certain environments there are often not adequate means,such as opening a window or relocating to a less hot location, toprevent persons from overheating while repairs can be made to themechanical cooling system. Examples of such environments are funeralhomes, taxi cabs, hotels, air planes, trains, shopping malls and so on .. . .

Also, other environments may not be suitable to “air condition” andpersons could become overheated by the natural hot air in theseenvironments. Examples are theme parks, outdoor shopping venues, anunenclosed sports stadium, golf courses, picnic groves, parade routes,horse shows, and so on . . . .

There is a ready need for a simple device to relieve an overheatedperson; an apparatus which is simple to operate, easily portable andstorable, does not require charging or fresh batteries and is relativelylow cost. Such a device could be maintained in relatively largequantities for emergency use by patrons in an environment susceptible tooverheating conditions; or such a device could be made available toindividuals as a convenience by either on-site of off-site vendors insituations or venues where overheating may be encountered.

Further, in a sporting event venue or a parade route or political rallyor similar event, overheating may or may not be a concern; however handclapping as a means of celebrating or signaling is a common activity.Often in such circumstances specialized portable hand held devices areused to enhance hand clapping activity. A need exists for a simpledevice that can be struck with the hand in the manor of the traditionaltambourine which would enhance and amplify traditional hand clappingactivity.

Further, in an environment and situation as described above; a sportingevent or parade or political rally; a need exists to advertise onespolitical association or candidate preference or school association ororganization or other message. Current art is a portable sign utilizinga handle to facilitate waving and carrying. Also hats with surfaces onwhich advertisements can be displayed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the drawings will become more apparent andthe present invention will be better understood upon consideration ofthe following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In suchdrawings FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a first embodiment of theinvention indicated by numeral 1. The water bottle is assumedtransparent and generally full of water. Numeral 2 is a traditionalspray bottle mechanism and is not part of the invention. Numeral 4 isthe single blade of the hand operated fan. Numeral 5 depicts in brokenlines an advertisement presented upon the fan blade. Numeral 6 is thespray/mist nozzle; numeral 7 indicates the nozzle attaching bracket andnumeral 8 the water conveying hose from the pump, 2, to the nozzle, 6.Neither numeral 6 nor 7 nor 8 are part of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates by numeral 9 a front view of a first embodiment ofthe invention. The rear view is not illustrated but is similar butopposite. Numeral 10 illustrates a left side view of a first embodimentof the invention and numeral 11 illustrates a right side view.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a second embodiment of theintervention indicated by the numeral 12. Numeral 13 points to thehandle of the second embodiment of the invention which is also the waterbottle and water reservoir, of the invention, which contains water forthe misting spray. The mist water is pumped, by practising the squeezehandle 14 of the pump mechanism, via tube 20 through the nozzle 21.Numeral 15 indicates a threaded collar which threads onto the mouth,numeral 32 of FIG. 4, of the handle/water/bottle reservoir 13 to jointhe fan 16 assembly of the invention to the handle of the invention.Numeral 17 indicates the area of the fan blade which houses the fitting,numeral 29 of FIG. 4; which joins the handle 13 and blade 16 assemblies.Numeral 5 indicates by broken lines advertising with may be presented onthe fan blade 16.

FIG. 4 depicts a generally detailed section front view section cutthrough the center of the invention top to bottom, numeral 22. A leftside view similar section is numeral 24. Numeral 23 illustrates a rightside view of the second embodiment of the invention. The front section22 and the side section 24 illustrate how tube 31 from the pump iscoupled, leak-free, with tube 20 which carries mist water to the nozzle21. These sections illustrate how tube 20 is held firmly by rubberfittings 30 and 19, but not so firmly as to not allow tube 20 to berotated by minimum force in order to alter the direction of the spraymist nozzle 21 in a 360 degree planar rotation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TWO EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment of the invention described herein is not intended to beexhaustive nor to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.Rather, the embodiments selected for the description have been chosen toenable one skilled in the art to practise the invention.

With reference first to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2: numeral 1 generally indicatesa hand held hand operated single blade fan 4 with a water bottle 3attached. Fan blade 4 has an advertisement 5 illustrated upon the broadsmooth portion in broken lines.

Generally the blade 4 may be manufactured of any material capable ofallowing the water bottle 3 to be press fit and/or glued in place asillustrated in FIG. 1. The blade material should be sturdy enough towithstand being struck with ones hand to produce the stimulated handclapping action claimed by the invention and also be manufactured of amaterial capable of producing a loud noise when struck to produce thesimulated hand clapping noise of the invention 1½ inch thick polystyrenesheet goods cut to shape is a possible suitable material formanufacturing the blade 16.

Referring still to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2., a pump mechanism 2 attached tothe water bottle is a traditional pump and not part of this invention.Hose 8 conveys pumped water to nozzle 6 which converts the water to aspray mist. Detaching the sprayer from the bottle in the traditionalmanner allows refilling. Hose 8, nozzle 6 and pump 2 are not apart ofthe invention. Bracket 7 locates and secures the hose 8 and 6 nozzleassembly as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

With reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4; numeral 12 generally indicatesanother embodiment of the invention herein referred to as a secondembodiment of the invention. Generally numeral 12 indicates a watercontainer 13 with a hand operated single blade fan attached to it.

The fan blade 16 in this embodiment is manufactured to allow a hollowstructure 16 through which a water conveying tube 20 fitted with a mistcreating nozzle 21 can be routed to the top of the fan blade 16. Anadvertisement 5 can be presented on the blade 16. The water container 13which is also the handle of the invention by which it is practicedcontains a pump 25 hand operated by squeezing handle lever 14. This pumpforces water up tube 20 to and through mist creating nozzle 21.

Referring still to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 numeral 15 indicates a rotatablecircular threaded collar. Compatible threads 32 are manufactured intothe opening or mouth 32 of the water bottle 13 which is also the handle13 and the reservoir 13 of the invention. When these threads around thecircular mouth 32 of the handle/water bottle/reservoir 13 are fullyengaged with the compatible threads of the circular collar 15 of the fanblade assembly 16 then the fan blade 16 assembly is attached to thehandle 13 assembly. When disengaged completely collar 15 allows thewater bottle assembly 13 to be separated from the fan 16 which allowsthe water bottle/handle/reservoir to be filled with water for the mistcreated by nozzle 21. When attaching the blade 16 to the water bottle 13by means of collar 15, at the same time water tube 31 from the pumpmechanism is joined to tube 20 by means of being leak-free contained inrubber fitting 30 which is further fitted into fitting 29.

Fitting 29 is glued permanently into blade 16 after first being insertedthrough collar 15 to facilitate collar 15 being held captively to be inposition to secure fitting 29 to the handle assembly 13 to join theblade 16 assembly with the handle 13 assembly.

Rubber fitting 30 also serves as a seal between water bottle opening 32and the fan blade 16 assembly. Also, rubber fitting 30 in unison withrubber fitting 19 hold water tube 20 firmly in place; but not so firmlyso not to allow water tube 20 to be moved in a 360 degree rotation toredirect the nozzle 21 360 degrees in a plane.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 which generally illustrates the twoembodiments of this invention chosen to be described. The practising ofeach embodiment is generally the same. That is: after filling therespective reservoirs with water the invention is held with one hand bynumeral 1 of FIG. 1 or 13 of FIG. 3. Then to practise the invention theblade of the invention, either 16 or 3, is moved in a back and forthmotion to create moving air which when moving across skin creates acooling effect. With the same hand, the pump 2 or 14, can be operatedcausing misting water to emit from the nozzle 21 or 6 to further coolskin.

If desired the blade 4 or 16 of the fan can be struck with the otherhand to create a noise to simulate hand clapping.

If desired an advertisement can be present on the blade 4 or 16 of thefan.

An apparatus for cooling a person compromising:

A single hand operated fan blade. Not part of the invention.

A nozzle attached to said fan blade which causes water to exit saidnozzle in a mist form. Not part of the invention.

A fillable water reservoir attached to said fan blade which also actslike the handle of the invention; not part of the invention.

A conduit to carry water from said reservoir to said nozzle; not part ofthe invention.

A hand operated water pump contained in said water reservoir attached tosaid fan blade to force water from said reservoir via said conduitthrough said nozzle; not part of invention.

1. The apparatus as set forth herein wherein any one or combination ofmembers is used as a handle wherein said handle is used simultaneouslyto practise the invention to move air and also practise the invention topump water through the nozzle to create water mist into the moving air.2. The apparatus as set forth herein wherein embodied as such that thefan blade is a sounding board which when struck produces a celebratoryand signaling sound to simulate and enhance traditional hand clapping.3. The apparatus as set forth herein wherein embodied as such that thefan blade is a surface on which advertisement is presented or the shapeof the fan blade is such as to be itself an advertisement.